larrabee



1955 c. E. LARRABEE 2,715,054

AUTOMATIC TIME RECORDER Filed Nov. 16, 1951 FIG. I.

INVENTOR CLINTON E. LARRABEE AGENT United States Patent AUTOMATIC TIME RECORDER Qlinton E. Larrabee, Binghamton, N. Y., assignor to International Business Machines Corporation, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application November 16, 1951, Serial No. 256,660 4 Claims. (Cl. 34682) This invention relates to time recorders and, particularly, to recorders of the type in which a record sheet is inserted to receive an automatic time registration thereon.

The instant invention is especially adapted for use as a job time recorder, time stamp, or the like where printing occurs upon insertion of a time card, and is contemplated to be an improvement in the operating construction of such machines.

Automatic time recorders familiar in the art, generally speaking, have included various forms of electrical contacts adapted to be actuated upon insertion of a sheet into printing position to cause energization of a solenoid or in some cases a motor for effecting a printing operation. These electrically controlled mechanisms, although widely used, as a rule necessitate a fairly sturdy record sheet capable of actuating a tensioned contact blade in order to initiate a recording operation. Recorders employing such electrical structures are generally preferred over recorders which employ a mechanical trip mechanism operated by the record sheet because apparently the former have been more adapted to be actuated by thinner record sheets since, normally less pressure is required to effect printing by electrical means. The present invention proposes an improved recorder wherein a recording operation is automatically initiated after the record sheet is inserted without the necessity of having the record sheet move a contact blade or actuate a mechanical trip mechanism.

Therefore, the principal object of the invention is to provide a recorder which is adapted to be used on record sheets of thinner structure than could be used if it were necessary for the sheet to physically move some member of a trip mechanism.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an automatic recorder with means for preventing the operation of the recorder more than once without removing the record sheet entirely from the record receiver. This feature eliminates the possibility of overprinting should the record sheet be left in the receiver longer than necessary.

Other objects of the invention will be pointed out in the following description and claims and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, which disclose, by way of example, the principle of the invention and the best mode, which has been contemplated, of applying that principle.

In the drawings:

Fig. l is a schematic view revealing the structural arrangement of the various mechanisms of the recorder including the electrical wiring.

Fig. 2 is a schematic view of .the printing mechanism showing the position of the elements as printing is being efiected.

Main drive In the preferred embodiment shown in the drawings, minute impulses from a master clock or other timing device (not shown) are transmitted over a wire 10 to "ice energize a magnet 11 (Fig. 1). The magnet 11 attracts a clutch lever 12 which is pivotally mounted so that it is normally held in a retracted position by tension of the upper blade 13 of a pair of normally open contacts 14. The attraction by magnet 11 causes the clutch lever 12 to pivot clockwise far enough to close the contacts 14 to initiate a motor running circuit which extends fromv one side of a suitable power source (not shown) connected to line 15, line 16, closed contacts 14, line 17, a motor 18, line 19 and line 20 back to the power source. The shaft of motor 18 has a worm 21 attached which drives, in a clockwise direction, a worm gear 22 secured on the end of a main shaft 23. Adjacent to the clutch lever 12 and loosely mounted on shaft 23 is a cam disc 24 which pivotally supports a clutch pawl 25. A spring blade 26 attached to cam disc 24 is adapted to urge the clutch pawl 25 in a clockwise direction so that it will latch up against one end of the clutch lever 12 when said lever is in the retracted or normal position. The attraction of clutch lever 12 by the energization of magnet 11 unlatches the clutch pawl 25 and the spring blade 26 urges the pawl to pivot in a clockwise direction far enough to allow a tail of the pawl to swing into the path of a projection 27 of a clutch disc 28 secured on the main shaft 23. The clutch disc 28 drives the pawl 25 and cam disc 24 in a clockwise direction for one revolution at the end of which time the clutch lever 12 will have returned to its retracted position allowing the pawl to latch up and stop the rotation of the cam disc 24.

A pair of normally open contacts 29 are arranged so that a projection 31) on the lower contact blade rests in a notch in the periphery of cam disc 24 when said disc is in a latched position. During the rotation of the cam disc the lower blade will ride up out of the notch and close the contacts 29 for the duration of the one revolution of the cam disc. The closure of contacts 29 serves to establish a hold circuit for the motor 18 to keep the motor running for one complete revolution of the main shaft 23. This hold circuit extends from line 15, line 16, closed contacts 29, line 17, motor 18,

line 19 and line 20.

T ypewheel setting mechanism Connected to the cam disc 24 by means of a bushing 31 is a lever 32 which makes one revolution along with the cam disc. A link 33 is connected between the lever 32 and a lever arm 34 pivotally mounted on a shaft 35 and as said lever 32 is caused to revolve, it causes the lever arm 34 to oscillate about shaft 35.

The other end of the lever arm is connected to a link 36 which extends upward and fastens onto a lever 37 pivotally mounted on a stud 38. Attached to the lever '37 is a feed pawl 39 which is urged by means of a spring 40, extending between the pawl and the link 36, and a spring 41, extending between the end of lever 37 and a stud 42, to seat in the teeth of a ratchet wheel 43. The

ratchet wheel is integral with a typewheel 44 pivotally mounted on a short shaft 45.

It can be seen that one complete revolution of lever 32 in a clockwise direction will cause the link 36 to move first downward and then upward allowing the pawl 39 to seat in the next tooth to the right and drive the ratchet wheel and typewheel one space in a clockwise direction. A pawl 46 is urged by a spring 47 to seat in the teeth on the ratchet wheel and serves as a detent for the typewheel.

Printing mechanism Pivotally attached to the lever arm 34 is a feed pawl 48 which is urged by a spring blade 49 to seat in the teeth of a ratchet wheel 5% secured on the shaft 35. Each time that lever 32 makes one revolution clockwise, the feed pawl 48 will advance the ratchet wheel one .tooth space in a counterclockwise direction. A pawl 51 which is urged by a spring 52 to seat in the teeth of the ratchet Wheel serves as a detent for the wheel and shaft 35.

Secured to the same shaft 35- With ratchet wheel 50 is a clock spring 53. As the ratchet wheel 50 is advanced, tension is stored in the spring 53 and through a connecting member 54 this power is transmitted to a gear 55 which is loosely mounted on the shaft 35.

The gear 55 then is caused to rotate in a cou-nter-clockwise direction and engages a pinion 56 fastened to a gear 57. The gear 57 engages a pinion 58 which is fastened to a ratchet wheel 59 causing said ratchet wheel 59 to rotate in a counterclockwise direction. Pivoted above ratchet wheel 59 on a stud 60 is an oscillating verge 61 to which is attached a pair of normally open contact springs 62.

It will be seen that as ratchet 59 rotates, it causes the verge 61 to rock back and forth imparting a back and forth movement to the contact group 62. The energy stored in the clock spring 53 as a result of a receipt of a minutes impulse by magnet 11 is sufficient to keep the verge 61 vibrating until the next minutes impulse is received.

An extended end 620 of the left contact is adapted when rocked to enter the space at the lower end of a record sheet or card receiver 63. Should the card receiver be empty when the contact group is rocked to the left by the verge, the end 62a will merely enter the receiver and the other contact spring 62b will move to the left but not a sufiicient amount to catch up with the spring 62a to close the contacts. However, when a card has been placed in the receiver, the movement of end 62a toward the left is blocked by the card a suflicient amount so that when the contacts are rocked to the left, contact spring 62b will catch up with contact spring 62a enough to close the contacts.

Closure of the contacts 62 causes the energization of a magnet 64 by completing a circuit from line 15, line 65', closed contacts 62, line 66, magnet 64 and line 20. The magnet 64 attracs a clutch lever 67 which is pivotally mounted so that it is normally held in a retracted position by tension of the upper blade 68 of a pair of normally open contacts 69. The attraction by magnet 64 causes the clutch lever 67 to pivot clockwise far enough to close the contacts 69 to initiate a motor running circuit which extends from line 15, line 65, closed contacts 69,

line 70, motor 18, line 19 and line 20. The motor then,

through worm 21 and worm gear 22, rotates the main shaft 23 in a clockwise direction.

Positioned on the shaft 23 adjacent to the clutch lever 67 is a second clutch arrangement which is identical in construction and operation to the one previously described in connection with the main drive. Clutch disc 71, secured on shaft 23, picks up pawl '72 and. drives a cam disc 73 in a clockwise direction. As the cam disc 73 rotates it closes a pair of normally open contacts 74 to initiate a holding circuit for keeping the motor in operation for one complete revolution of the cam disc 73. This holding circuit extends from line 15, through closed contacts '74, motor 18, line 19 and line At the end of one revolution of cam disc 73, pawl 72 comes into engagement with the upper end of clutch lever 67 unlatching the pawl from clutch disc '71. Contacts 74 also open at this point to stop the motor.

Connected to the cam disc 73 by means of a bushing 75 is a printing cam 76. As print cam 76 moves in a clockwise direction, it releases a link 77 allowing it to be moved to the left by a spring 78. A projection 79 on the link comes into contact with end 80 of a latch lever 81 pivotally mounted on a stud 32. The latch lever is normally urged in a counterclockwise direction about stud 82 by a spring. 83 and in the normal position is adapted to catch a shoulder on a printing hammer 84, pivoted on a stud 85, to hold said hammer in a retracted position. However, when projection 79 contacts end 89 the pulled back to the right.

i latch lever is raised releasing the printing hammer The hammer is propelled by a spring 86 against the card causing it to be pressed against the typewheel 44 and ink ribbon (not shown) thereby printing the time of registration on the card.

As the printing cam '76 moves in a clockwise direction for one complete revolution, it will cause link 77 to be A stud 87 on the printing ham mer extends into a slot 88 on link 77 and as a result the link pulls the printing hammer back with it restoring tension in spring 86 and latching the hammer up with latch lever 81.

Another feature of the present invention is to provide means for making it impossible to operate the recorder more than once without removing the card entirely from the card receiver thus removing the possibility of overprinting. A convenient and unique printing interlock means is provided in the form of a lever 89 pivoted on a stud 90 and which, under the influence of spring 83, normally extends into the receiver 63 when the receiver is empty. The right end of lever 89 will normally rest against astop stud 91.

Referring to Fig. 2, as the card placed in the receiver engages the lever 89, it pivots it in a counterclockwise direction causing a link 92, which has one end fastened to the right end of said lever, to be raised up. The tension in spring 83 is made as weak as possible to allow the lever to be moved by a fairly thin record sheet or card in keeping with the spirit of the invention.

A latch bar 93' is pivotally mounted on a stud 94 and as the link 92 is raised a spring 95, fastened between said link and the free end of the latch bar, causes the bar to pivot up into contact with a latch lever 96. Latch lever 96 is fastened at its left end to the end of contact spring 62b and has a right end shaped like a gooseneck and supported on a stud 9'7.

As the printing hammer is released for a printing operation its lower end strikes the inside of contact spring 62b moving it and latch lever 96 toward the right far enough to allow a notched portion of the latch bar to hook behind a projection 98 on the latch lever. It can be seen that now the contacts 62 are latched open by the latch bar 93 and they will remain open even after the printing hammer has returned to its normal position until the card is removed from the receiver. As long as contacts 62 are latched open it is impossible to operate the printing mechanism since these contacts are in the circuit responsible for the firing of the printing hammer.

When the card is removed from the receiver, lever 89 is propelled by spring 83 back to its normal position against stop stud 91. Link 92 is lowered and by means of a slot 99 acting against a stud on the latch bar 93,. the bar is lowered thereby unlatching the latch lever 96 and allowing the contact spring 62b to return to its normal position. With contact spring 62b in its normal position where it can be influenced by the verge 61, the recorder is ready for operation again.

While there has been shown and described and pointed out the fundamental novel features of the invention as applied to a preferred embodiment, it will be understood that various omissions and substitutions and changes in the form and details of the device illustrated and in its operation may be made by those skilled in the art, without departing from the spirit of the invention. It is the intention, therefore, to be limited only as indicated by the scope of the following. claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a machine for printing on an inserted record, a printing mechanism, normally idle drive means for said printing mechanism, a record receiver, a contact device positioned adjacent said record receiver, means for repeatedly rocking said contact device transversely into and out of said record receiver to cause said device 75 to contact the side of a record inserted therein, and

means controlled by said contact device upon contacting a record in said receiver for starting said drive means.

2. In a machine for printing on an inserted record, a printing mechanism, normally idle drive means for said printing mechanism, a record receiver, a contact device positioned adjacent said receiver, means for continuously rocking said contact device transversely into and out of said record receiver to cause said device to contact the side of a record inserted therein, said contact device including contacts normally in one position and adapted to be moved to a second position upon being brought into engagement with a record inserted in said receiver, by the rocking action of said contact device, and means controlled by said contact means, on being moved to said second position, for starting said driving meansv 3. In a machine for printing on an inserted record, a printing mechanism, normally idle drive means for said printing mechanism, a record receiver, a contact device positioned adjacent said receiver, means for continuously rocking said contact device transversely into and out of said record receiver to cause said device to contact the side of a record inserted therein, said contact device including contacts normally in one position and adapted to be moved to a second position upon being brought into engagement With a record inserted in said receiver, by the rocking action of said contact device, means controlled by said contact means, on being moved to said second position, for starting said drive means, a member included in said printing mechanism and positioned by the operation of same to move said contacts to said first position, and a latching device positioned adjacent said card receiver and having a member adapted to enter said receiver so as to be influenced by a card inserted in the receiver to eflect the latching of said contacts in said first position.

4. In a machine for printing on an inserted record, a printing mechanism, normally idle drive means for said printing mechanism, a record receiver, a contact device positioned adjacent said card receiver, spring driving means for continuously rocking said contact device transversely into and out of said record receiver to cause said device to contact the side of a record inserted therein, means controlled by said contact device upon contacting a record in said receiver for starting said drive means, a time typewheel, normally idle drive means for advancing said typewheel, means responsive to the reception of signals at chronological times for starting said last mentioned drive means, and means controlled by said last mentioned drive means for supplying energy to said spring driving means.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,680,326 Dutton Aug. 14, 1928 1,979,208 Friden Oct. 30, 1934 2,127,897 Watkins Aug. 23, 1938 2,395,781 Findlay Feb. 26, 1946 2,454,025 Amend et al. Nov. 16, 1948 2,600,822 Yarnall et a1. June 17, 1952 

